Automatic train-pipe coupling.



M. SEGAL L P. G, WALKER.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING. APPLICATION FILED mlm. 1910.

QTQAQQ, u Patented NOV. 22, 1910.v

'IN II'ED VSTAJIS PATENT OFFICE. Meurtres SEGAL AND FREDERICK c. WALKER, ,or BUFFALO, N'Ew roma; sainv wALxfn. AsseNon To SAID snaar..

.atr'roMA'rIc :main-rire cQU'PLING.

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-Speeicationo1' Letters Patent;` Patented NOV; 22, 1910.

Application mea rebrumy 7,'1e1o. serial No. '5ta-564 To allwLm-r'rjtma/y concern:

Be it known that we, MAURICE SEGAL and- Fnnnnmpx C. WALKER, citizens of the United States and Canada, respectiyely, and residents of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train- Pipe Conpling, ofwhich the following is a v approach each other, and morefparticularly toma-tical to air pi es V.forming parts of the brake system of a jacent cars, although the saine may. also-be used vfor connecting the waterandgas conductingpipes of adjacent cars; 1

lfnthey accompany' "'drawingszligure l is a side elevation owing onejawa'y of embodying our 'invention for connectin'g'the.

cars. 1g. 2 is .a bottomA viewthereof.v

Fi 3 is a franentapyvertical longitudif na section of` e air pipe coupling, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a frontend view of .oneof 'the coupling members. Fig. is a vertical cross section in line 5-5, Fig. 3.

vSimilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts' throughout the 4several views.

A, A represent the opposing-,draw bars of two Acars which are provi e front lends`with heads `a of` any usual or approved construction for coupling the draft rigging of said cars. j

B, .B represent the air vpipes which form part of the air brake mechanisms of two cars and which have heretofore been coupled by hand for uniting the brake system of the entire train and causing the same to operate 1n uxnson. Our imlproved coupling is designed to au# y ei'ect the coupling of theair brake-pipes of adjacent cars as the. latter approach each other and the coupling of their draft rigging is eiiected,` and to automatically disconnect such air I pipes when the draft riggings of these cars are separated. y l

-Althou-gh ourinvention may be embodiedd at their tono in various forms, that shown 1n the drawings is preferred and constructed as follows: C represents a horizontal air cylinder preferably secured lengthwise to the underside of each draw bar and having an open front end, a closedrear end and a port c 011 its underside about midway of its length which latter connects with the air pipe B 'of the respective car. This pipe preferably contains a flexible section b to permit the aircylinder to shift its positionrelatively lto the body ofthe car without injuring the airf pipe and the latter is also provided with a hand valve d whereby the respective end ofthe air pipe may be closed by hand when desired.

j E; represents an outer ,or .front piston arranged in the outer or front end'of the cylinder and provided on its front. vertical end with afacin e of rubber or other elastic packmgmateria and also provided with one or more air passages f extending lengthwise vthrough the same vfrom its outer to its inner end'and also through said facing. Y G represents a rear or inner piston arranged vin the. inner or rear part of the cylinder andspaced apart from the front piston but connected therewith by a longitudinal connecting rod g. The -p'istons are hold against turnin p air passages of the front piston in a posiso as to always retain the tion in which they will register withthe v corresponding' air passages of the lfront'pisthe coupling member of an opposing car. The means for thus preventing the pistons from turning may be variously constructed-but that shown in thedrawings is preferred and consists of a liatsided guide rod H projecting rearwardly from the rear piston through a at side opening I1. in the rear end of the cylinder.

When thecar is-.uncoupled from another car the pistons of each coupling member are projected into theinoutermost position by a spring I which is preferably arranged within the cylinder between the rear piston and the rear end of the cylinder. The4 forward or outward movement of the pistons is lim- Jis ol' a collar or shoulder z' arranged on the rear end ot' the guide rod and adapted to engage with the rear end ot the cylinder.

While the pistons are in their forwardly i projected position the rear one is arranged with its periphery overthe air port of the respective cylinder, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the escape of any airl from the air brake system. y

-When two cars approach each other sittlicieiitly close to permit of coupling their diaft riggings the outer pistons abut against each other and-are pushed backwardly into their cylinders, until the reai pistons'are arranged in rear ofthe aii ports and uncover the saine, as shown in'l"ig. 3. instant this occurs communication is established between the air pipes ot' the brake systems of both cars, inasmuch as the air passages ofv both outer pistons are in register and air can pass freely through the saine and-thc cylinderstrom one air pipel to the other according to whichever direci piston movable lengthwise in each cylinder and having a,passagefadapted to connect with a corresponding passage in the'other piston, and means moving with said piston tor closing said port in the forward position of the piston and o )eningsaid port in -the rearward position o said piston.

2.' The combination of opposing cars havinffnipes, cylinders mounted on the cars and pas?. having a port in' its side which connects witli'one of said pipes, a front piston arranged in each cylinder in front of its port and having ai passage adapted to register with the correspondinor passage of the front i-piston ot the other cy inder, and a rear pistion the air is moving. The elastic facing on the outer pistons forms a tight packing between thesame which prevents leakage of the air and thus inaintainsivthe brake system in a high state of ctliciency. Y. l

The instant two ears are separated the air coupling pistons are moved into their outer-.i

most positions by their springs and the esea pe of air through the air pipes is cut oi by the rear pistons covering the ports c.

Each of the front pistons is provided on its periphery with packing rings j and each iear piston is provided on its periphenv with "similar packing rings j toA prevent leakage of air either in the forward or rearward position of the. pistons.

The outer ends of the air passages of the outer pistons ai'e preferably liared, ass-hewn iii Figs. $5 and 4, so as to permit these pistons to move laterally relatively to each other without disturbing communication between the saine. f

, lt will be observed that by means of'our improved coupling the connection and disconnection between the air brake systems of cars is effected automatically while coupling or .uncouplin' the draft mechanism of the same, thereby t ispensing with' the labor heretofore required for this 'purpose and avoiding the danger attending the air coupling as heretofore practiced and also re.

ducin'g thc time required forniakingup a -ingly-shap ton in each cylinder adapted to cover and uncover the port in said cylinder and mov- `able with the front piston iii the respective cylinder. i Y A,

iglThe combination of'opposing cars having pipes, cylinders .mounted horizontallyand 4lengthwise on' said cars'aiid each having a port in its Side which connects with one of said pipes, a front piston arranged in the front part of each cylinder andhaviiig a longitudinalA passage adapted to register with the corresponding passage, of the front piston in the cylinder of the other car, a

rear piston arranged in the rearvpart of each cylinder and apart from the companion front piston, a. connecting rod connecting each pair of front and rear pistons, a Hatsided guide rod connected with each rear piston and assing through a correspondopening in the rear end of the respective cylinder, a spring arranged in each cylinder between the rear end thereof and the rear iston therein and operating to move the pistons outwardly, anda stop collar arranged on said guide rod and ada t'- ed to engage the-rear end of the cylin er and arrest the istons when the rear piston is arranged wit its periphery over the port o f the respective cylinder.

4.` T lie combination of opposing cars having draw bars, air lbrake pipes, cylinders mounted on saiddraw bars and 'each having a port in side which connects with one of said pipes, :1V-front' piston arran d n the front art of each cylinder and aving a lon itudinal passage adapted to register with tie corresponding passage of thefront piston in the cylinder of the other car, a

each pair of front and rear pistons, a fiatsided guide rod connected with each rer rear piston arranged n the rearpart of each www@ piston and passing hzough a, corrsspnc mgly-shapecf opening in' tbs rear end of the respective Cylinder, a spring arranged in each cylinder batween the rear end thereof and the rear piston therein and' operating to move the pistons outwardly, and a sop COL lar arranged on said guide rod and adapted to engae the rear and. of the cylinder and arrest t. e 'pistons when 1th@ rear piston is yr f arranged with iis periphery over ha of the respectlve cymder.

Wltness our hands dus 2nd @my of Fabrw ary, 1910. 4 Y

MAURCE SEGA'L FREDERC C. 'WALKR Witnesses:

THEO. L. POPE, ANNA Hmmm. 

